San Francisco’s Presidio Theatre has announced its 2023 spring season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal and operatic performances. The Lamplighters will present “By Georges! A Day in the Life of the Legendary Chevalier de St. Georges.” The showcase is the company’s first production from its operetta commission project. Performance Date: May 6, {…}
The Seattle Symphony has announced its lineup of holiday concerts at Benaroya Hall. This year marks the first time since 2019 that the symphony will perform its full suite of programs in person. Among the events is the tradition of Handel’s “Messiah” featuring soprano Nicole Cabell, contralto Sara Couden, tenor Steven Soph, bass Damien Geter, and the Seattle Symphony Chorale {…}
The Grammy Awards have announced their nominations for 2023 with the Metropolitan Opera leading the field in the classical categories. In the Best Opera Recording category Matthew Aucoin’s “Eurydice” was nominated alongside Terrence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut up in my Bones” and Anthony Davis’ “X – The Life And Times Of Malcolm X” “Eurydice” features Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Barry Banks, Nathan Berg, {…}
Photo: Jamie Jung American composer Lembit Beecher has collaborated with librettist/lyricist Mark Campbell to write “A Year to the Day,” a new song cycle rooted in, but not about, the pandemic. The concept was Campbell’s, and it was he who approached the composer. Together, they wrote six songs, along with five instrumental interludes for tenor Nicholas Phan, violinist Augustin Hadelich, {…}
The Violin Channel is set to present “A Year to the Day” on Oct. 7, 2022 at 7 p.m. The dramatic song cycle by composer Lembit Beecher with lyrics by librettist Mark Campbell, which explores the life of an artist during the pandemic, will feature performances by tenor Nicholas Phan, violinist Augustin Hadelich, pianist Orion Weiss, and cellist Karen Ouzounian. {…}
(Disclosure: Out of respect for the sensitivity of our audience we will only link to images of blackface instead of showing them here) Following a performance of “Aida” at the Arena di Verona on July 8, several opera singers are calling out Anna Netrebko for the use of blackface. Jamie Barton took to Twitter and said, “It’s been a long {…}
To begin July, audiences will get a chance to listen to new albums from numerous tenors and will get see DVD recordings of a rare opera and a legendary recording from Salzburg. Here is a look. Stranger: Works for Tenor by Nico Muhly Nicholas Phan releases his eighth Avie Records album for both physical and digital release. The new recording {…}
The Amigos de la Ópera de A Coruña has announced its 2022 season featuring recitals, operas and concerts. Asmik Grigorian and Lukas Geniusas perform at the Teatro Rosalía de Castro. Performance Date: Sept. 1, 2022 Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” will be performed in concert by Angela Meade, Alejandro Roy, Ginger Costa-Jackson, Luiz-Ottavio Faria, Luis Cansino, and Borja Quiza. Guiseppe {…}
The Palau de la Musica Orfeo Catala has announced its 2022-23 season featuring many operatic performances and vocal highlights. Here is a look. Marta Mathéu and Alex Potter join the Vespres d’Arnadí and Dani Espasa for works by Händel, Porpora, Geminiani, Steffani, and Bononcini. Performance Date: Oct. 5, 2022 “Only the sound remains” by Kaija Saariaho will feature Michał Sławecki, {…}
Boston Baroque has unveiled its 2022-23 season, which will be its 50th anniversary season. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. It all kicks off with Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Amanda Forsythe, Sonja Tengblad, Tamara Mumford, Nicholas Phan, and Kevin Deas will be the soloists. Music Director Martin Pearlman conducts. Performance Dates: {…}
The Seattle Symphony has announced its 2022-23 season featuring several international performers. Here is a look at the vocal performance. Enrique Lopez-Yañez conducts José Sibaja and Mónica Ábrego in a program of Latin American music. Performance Dates: Oct. 14 & 16, 2022 Tan Dun conducts his piece “Buddha Passion” with Sen Guo, Huiling Zhu, Kang Wang, Yupeng Wang, Batubagen, and Chen Yining. {…}